View source for Ivory carved tusk depicting Buddha life stories

{{Short description|Ivory carved Buddha statue in India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2018}}
{{More citations needed|date=February 2014}}
[[File:Tusk carving National Museum India.jpg|thumb|20th century carved ivory tusk at Decorative Arts Gallery, National Museum, New Delhi]]
'''Carved elephant tusk depicting Buddha life stories''' is an intricately carved complete single tusk now exhibited at the Decorative Arts gallery,<ref>{{cite news
|date= 6 July 2013
|title= Decorative Arts Gallery at National Museum reopened
|url= http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/decorative-arts-gallery-at-national-museum-reopened/article4888462.ece
|newspaper= The Hindu
|location= New Delhi
|access-date= 4 Jan 2014 }}</ref> [[National Museum, New Delhi]], India. This tusk was donated to the Museum. This tusk, which is nearly five foot long, illustrates forty three events in the life of the [[Buddha]] and is thought to have been made by early 20th century craftsmen from the Delhi region.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/highlights/highlight_objects/aoa/i/ivory_tusks_carved_with_figure.aspx# |title=British Museum - Ivory tusks carved with figures and cartoons |access-date=15 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150926173212/http://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/highlights/highlight_objects/aoa/i/ivory_tusks_carved_with_figure.aspx# |archive-date=26 September 2015 |url-status=dead|df=dmy-all }}</ref>
==Description==
The use of the complete ivory tusks for carving was popular in 18th and 19th century India, particularly in the [[Delhi]] region apart from [[Burma]]. Similar whole tusk carvings are also found in the [[Ivory Coast]], [[Democratic Republic of the Congo|Congo]]<ref>{{cite journal
|journal=Smithsonian Magazine
|year=2008
|title=Spirals of History
|author=Edwards, Owen
|url=http://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/atm-object-200804.html
}}</ref> and [[Benin]] but made from the tusks of African elephants.
The art of [[ivory]] carving in India is very ancient with references found in [[Kalidasa|Kalidasa's]] [[Meghadūta]]. The earliest ivory carving from the Indian region is comb dating to the 2nd century CE found at [[Taxila (modern)|Taxila]]. Ivory carving flourished in [[Assam]] and [[Mysore]] where elephants were available and the art of ivory carving had royal patronage. Ivory was an object of trade between kingdoms and they found their way into areas where the art of carving had patronage.<ref>{{cite book|
title=Foundations of Indian Musicology: Perspectives in the Philosophy of Art and Culture
|first1=Asoke Kumar |last1=Bhattacharyya
|first2=Pradip Kumar |last2=Sengupta
|publisher=Abhinav Publications
|year=1991
|isbn=9788170172734
|page=124
}}</ref>
This ivory tusk illustrates important life events of [[The life of the Buddha|Buddha]] in 43 circular roundel, first 25 referring to the story of Buddha's birth to his enlightenment followed by 18 depicting his life events from enlightenment to ''Mahaparinirvana''. Similar scenes have been presented in sculptures and paintings many a times but this ivory tusk shows few new scenes of Buddha's life such as Siddharatha's fight for a bird, his move against animal sacrifice and realization of death. As the thickness of the tusk reduces upwards, one can see at the tip three well-known postures depicting ''Bhumisparsha mudra'', ''Abhayamudra'' and ''Dharmachakrapravatan mudra'' besides the roundels. There is also an intricately carved floral creeper banding around the roundels enhancing its beauty.
==Scenes==
The story runs from bottom to top and is arranged clockwise.<ref>{{cite journal
|date= 1997–98
|title= Carved Elephant Tusk Illustrating Buddha's Life
|author = Pathak, Anamika
|journal= Kala- the Journal of Indian Art History Congress
|location= Guwahati
|volume= IV
|publisher= Indian Art History Congress
}}</ref>
===Pre Enlightenment Life Events of Buddha===
<gallery widths="250px" heights="275" perrow="3">
File:Depiction of Palaces and architecture, probably Kapilavastu Roundel 1 buddha ivory tusk.jpg|'''Depiction of [[Kapilavastu (ancient city)|Kapilavastu]], where prince Siddharatha lived''' The first roundel shows mountains, flora-fauna and architecture which gives the impression of a town probably Kapilavastu.
File:Suddhodna seated on a throne Roundel 2 ivory tusk.jpg|'''Seated figure of [[Śuddhodana|King Suddhodana]]''' The father of Siddhartha, King Suddhodana of Kapilavastu has been shown seated on his throne.
File:Maya Devi dreaming white elephant in her dream Roundel 4 buddha ivory tusk.jpg|'''Dream of [[Maya (mother of Buddha)|Queen Mayadevi]]''' The mother of Siddhartha, Queen Mayadevi is having a dream of an elephant which symbolizes the saintly soul's appearance in her womb.
File:Maya Devi visiting her parents Roundel 5 buddha ivory tusk.jpg|Mayadevi visiting her parents
File:Maya Devi with her son Siddhartha Roundel 6 buddha ivory tusk.jpg|'''Mayadevi with her son [[Gautama Buddha|Siddharatha]]''' This scene depicts the birth of Siddhartha, Prince of Kapilavastu in a different manner from other literary and sculptural narrations. Here Queen Mayadevi is shown seated with a baby in her lap surrounded by ''cauri''-bearer and friends.<ref>{{cite book|last= Parimoo|first= R.|year= 1982|title= Life of Buddha in Indian Sculpture|location= New Delhi|page = 11 }}</ref>
File:Suddhodhana and Maya Devi welcome the sage Asita Roundel 7 buddha ivory tusk.jpg|'''[[Asita|Sage Asita]] visiting King Suddhodana'''
File:Maya Devi on her death bed with Suddhodhana Roundel 8 buddha ivory tusk.jpg|'''Mayadevi's death scene'''<ref>{{cite book|last= Beal|first= Samuel|year= 1875|title= The Romantic Legend of Sâkya Buddha: From the Chinese-Sanscrit|url= https://archive.org/details/romanticlegends00jgoog|quote= Romantic legends of sakya buddha.|publisher= Trübner & Company|location= New Delhi|page = [https://archive.org/details/romanticlegends00jgoog/page/n79 63]|access-date= 5 January 2014 }}</ref>
File:Prince Siddhartha in a garden Roundel 9 buddha ivory tusk.jpg|'''Prince Siddhartha in a garden'''
File:Siddhartha and Devadutta with a wounded bird Roundel 10 buddha ivory tusk.jpg|'''Siddhartha and [[Devadatta|Devadutta]] with a wounded bird'''
File:Siddhartha cures the wounded bird Roundel 11 buddha ivory tusk.jpg|'''Siddhartha tends and cures the bird'''
File:Prince Siddhartha as an archer Roundel 12 buddha ivory tusk.jpg|'''Siddhartha as an archer in the Swamvara of [[Yasodharā|Princess Yasodhara]]'''
File:Yashodhara garlands Siddhartha Roundel 13 buddha ivory tusk.jpg|'''Yasodhara garlanding Siddhartha'''
File:Roundel 14 buddha ivory tusk.JPG|'''Siddhartha meets an old man'''
File:Roundel 15 buddha ivory tusk.JPG|'''Siddhartha sees a corpse'''
File:Siddhatha sees a meditating ascetic Roundel 16 buddha ivory tusk.jpg|'''Siddhartha sees a meditating ascetic'''
File:Roundel 17 buddha ivory tusk.JPG|'''Siddhartha leaves his sleeping wife and sons'''
File:Siddhartha and his attendant Chandaka leave Palace Roundel 18 buddha ivory tusk.jpg|'''Siddhartha with his assistant Chandaka leaving the Palace'''
File:Siddhartha cutting his hair Roundel 19 buddha ivory tusk.jpg|'''Siddhartha cuts his hair and removes his jewellery and royal costume'''
File:Siddhartha receiving alms Roundel 20 buddha ivory tusk.jpg|'''Siddhartha receives bhiksha from a woman'''
File:Siddhartha in meditation Roundel 21 buddha ivory tusk.jpg|'''Siddhartha in Meditation'''
File:Five ascetics visit meditating Siddhartha Roundel 22 buddha ivory tusk.jpg|'''Five saintly persons visit Siddhartha while he meditates'''
File:Buddha seated under a tree in abhaya mudra Roundel 3 ivory tusk.jpg|'''Buddha seated under a tree in ''Abhayamudra'''''
File:Sujata offers Kheer to Siddhartha Roundel 23 buddha ivory tusk.jpg|'''Sujata offering kheer to Buddha'''
File:Mara tries to disturb and divert Buddha Roundel 24 buddha ivory tusk.jpg|'''[[Mara (demon)|Māra]] tries to disturb and divert Buddha:''' Māra, the powerful demon arrives with the aim of preventing the Bodhisattva from attaining his goal. Māra attempts to terrify the Bodhisattva with his powerful army, and to seduce him with his daughters, but he is unable to divert the Bodhisattva from his goal. Māra gives up, defeated.
File:Roundel 25 buddha ivory tusk.JPG|'''Budhha in Abhaya mudra'''
</gallery>
===Post Enlightenment Life Events of Buddha===
<gallery widths="250px" heights="275" perrow="3">
File:Buddha visiting his five old friends Roundel 26 buddha ivory tusk.jpg|'''Buddha visits his five old friends, who became the first disciples''': Post his enlightenment, Buddha decided to first teach [[Dharma]] to his five friends who were his companions during his ascetic practices at [[Bodh Gaya]]. His five friends were [[Kaundinya|Kondanna]], Bhaddiya, Vappa, Mahanama and [[Assaji]]. Buddha went to [[Sarnath]] to meet them. For the first time he taught the [[Four Noble Truths]] and the [[Noble Eightfold Path|Eightfold Path]].
File:Buddha conquers Kasyapa Roundel 27 buddha ivory tusk.jpg|'''Buddha conquers the Agni-Pujaka Jatadhari Kasyapa'''
File:Buddha addresses the masses Roundel 28 buddha ivory tusk.jpg|'''Buddha addressing the masses'''
File:Buddha walks with a shepherd holding a lamb Roundel 29 buddha ivory tusk.jpg|'''Buddha walking with a shepherd, holding a lamb'''
File:Bimbisar welcoming Buddha Roundel 30 buddha ivory tusk.jpg|'''Magadh King welcoming Buddha''': Buddha found patronage in emperor [[Bimbisara|Bimbisāra]]. The emperor accepted Buddhism as his personal faith and allowed the establishment of many Buddhist ''[[Vihara|vihāras]]''. This eventually led to the renaming of the entire region as [[Bihar|Bihār]].<ref name=Wolpert>India by [[Stanley Wolpert]] (Page 32)</ref>
File:Sariputra and Maudgalyayana become disciples of Buddha Roundel 31 buddha ivory tusk.jpg|'''[[Sariputra|Śāriputra]] and [[Maudgalyayana]] become the followers of Buddha'''
File:Buddha helping the grieved mother to come out from her child’s death Roundel 32 buddha ivory tusk.jpg|'''Buddha helping the grieved mother to come out from her child's birth'''
File:Suddhodhana welcomes Buddha at Kapilavastu Roundel 33 buddha ivory tusk.jpg|'''Suddhodhana welcoming Buddha at Kapilavastu'''
File:Buddha with Yasodhara and Rahul Roundel 34 buddha ivory tusk.jpg|'''Buddha with Yasodhara and her son, Rahul'''
File:Buddha blesses Rahul Roundel 35 buddha ivory tusk.jpg|'''Buddha blesses [[Rāhula]]:''' On the advice of Yashodhara, Rāhula asked Buddha for his "inheritance". The Buddha called the venerable [[Sariputta]] and asked him to ordain Rāhula who became the first [[Samanera|Sāmanera]] (novice monk). After Rāhula's ordination the Buddha taught him the importance of telling the truth. Buddha placed truth as the highest of all virtues. Rāhula subsequently became an [[arhat|arahant]].
File:Roundel 36 buddha ivory tusk.JPG|'''[[Amrapali]], famous courtesan, greeting Buddha:''' Buddha while visiting Vaishali stayed at Amrapalli's mango grove. She invited Buddha for a meal which he accepted. She later donated the mangrove to his order. She accepted the Buddhist way, and remained an active supporter of the Buddhist order.
File:Ladies from the Kapilavastu Palace watch Buddha preaching Roundel 37 buddha ivory tusk.jpg|'''Ladies from the palace watch Buddha preaching'''
File:Nanda before Buddha Roundel 38 buddha ivory tusk.jpg|'''[[Nanda (Buddhist nun)|Nanda]] before Buddha'''
File:Roundel 39 buddha ivory tusk.JPG|'''Buddha stops Nanda, who tried to escape from the Sangha'''
File:A mad elephant rushes towards Buddha Roundel 40 buddha ivory tusk.jpg|'''A mad elephant rushes towards Buddha'''
File:Buddha tames the mad elephant Roundel 41 buddha ivory tusk.jpg|'''Buddha tames the mad elephant'''
File:Buddha teaching Roundel 42 buddha ivory tusk.jpg|'''Buddha speaks to a large gathering'''
File:Mahaparinirvana of Buddha Roundel 43 buddha ivory tusk.jpg|'''[[Parinirvana|'''Mahaparinirvana''']] of Buddha'''
</gallery>
===Buddha and Mudras===
<gallery widths="250px" heights="275" perrow="3">
File:Buddha, First Mudra, on ivory tusk, National Museum, New Delhi.jpg|Buddha in [[Mudra#Bhumisparsha Mudr.C4.81|Dhyana mudra]]
File:Buddha, second mudra, on ivory tusk, National Museum, New Delhi.jpg|Buddha in [[Abhayamudra]]
File:Buddha,Third Mudra,on ivory tusk, National Museum, New Delhi.jpg|Buddha in [[Mudra#Dharmacakra Mudr.C4.81|Bhumisparsha]] mudra
</gallery>
==See also==
* [[National Museum, New Delhi]]
* [[Walrus ivory]]
*[[Ivory trade]]
==References==
{{reflist}}
[[Category:Indian Buddhist sculpture]]
[[Category:National Museum, New Delhi]]
[[Category:Ivory works of art]]